Accra, Nov. 7, GNA - Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Inspector General of Police, was on Saturday a centre of admiral attention as he was awarded Executive Masters in Business Administration with Human Resource Management option, at a congregation held at Legon by the University of Ghana. He was part of some 2,134 students who graduated at a ceremony presided over by Justice Samuel K. Date-Baah of the Supreme Court, who is also the Chairman of Council of the University.

Out of the total students that graduated, 650 were post-graduate candidates, with 1,149 being undergraduates and 335 receiving diploma awards and 7.7 percent of the undergraduates received first class degree awards. About 26.3 percent were honoured with second class upper division with 51.7 percent receiving second class lower division degrees, and 9 percent of the diplomats obtained distinctions.

Mr Quaye told the Ghana News Agency that higher education was important for the country to achieve its socio-economic developmental agenda and urged the youth to take up the challenge to pursue academic work. He said it was only when the youth in the society sacrificed some of the time they allocated to the pursuit of pleasure to acquire knowledge that would make them useful and self-reliant in society.

Mr Quaye "It is not going to be easy. But knowledge is necessary, for it is by means of it that the youth can advance to the top of their job and be very influential and respected in society," he said. He said sacrifices that a student made in order to acquire knowledge was worthwhile since it was only by that means that strategic objectives and goals could be met for development.

Mavis Fuseini, a graduate who was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science, told the GNA that the academic struggle at the University had not been easy.

Pointing out to a number of the female graduating students she said the assertion that a woman's place was in the kitchen was false and a disincentive to the girl-child education.

Domphrey Dadzie, a graduate who received Bachelor of Science in Biochemical Engineering, also told the GNA that the first degree he had acquired was going to serve as only a stepping-stone for further academic pursuit.

"In the engineering level, first degree is not enough. I am determined to study further, after the national service, in order to establish a biomaterial firm in Ghana," he said.

He expressed worry of the fact biomateri als used in the country were exported into the country at a great cost to Ghana's economy. He said that financial support and encouragement was needed in order to make his dreams become a reality. In an address delivered earlier at the graduation ceremony, Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, reminded the graduands to pursue further academic work in order to secure a good job placement.

"A second degree is increasingly becoming the ticket to securing well-paid and satisfying employment, so I would urge those who can, to let their achievements which are being recognised today, be only the stepping stone to go on to pursue further academic work," he said.

Prof Tagoe commended them for reaching that far in their academic pursuits adding: "You have worked hard and burnt the proverbial midnight oil and deserve your moment in the spotlight. I urge you to stand up for what you believe in and to let honesty and integrity be your guide in all you do."